Never Kiss Your Unexpected Roommate

Love in Cedar Creek #0.5

by Kinley Raine

Alternate cover edition of ASIN B0DCPBFJQK

The produce aisle isn’t usually my go to for meeting women.
But that’s where I found the girl of my dreams.

I never thought a toppled fruit display could change my life.
But Ashley’s mishap made more than apples fall that day.

She’s only visiting from Vegas for a week.
This chance meeting can't turn into something long-term.

I’m a reserved accountant from a small town.
She’s an adventurous flight attendant jet-setting the globe.

But my predictable life feels like it’s spinning out of control.
Her beauty and laughter bring out a side of me I didn’t know existed.

One that has me sprinting and having food fights.
And trust me—I don’t run… ever.

When her trip gets extended, she needs a place to stay.
Lucky for me, my apartment has an open room.

She’s dancing down the hallway…
And drawing me in with every step.

Risking my heart for Ashley is the ultimate gamble.
But maybe it’s time I go all in for love.

Genres: Romance

83 pages, ebook

First published August 8, 2024

Reviews

[Chia]

"Never Kiss Your Unexpected Roommate" is a delightful romantic comedy that beautifully combines humor, heart, and the trials of unexpected love. The story follows Ryder and Ashley, whose chance encounter evolves into a charming and heartfelt relationship.

From the outset, the chemistry between Ryder and Ashley is palpable. Ryder’s humorous and deeply romantic gestures, such as the memorable proposal with a ring pop, create a narrative that is as entertaining as it is touching. His devotion to Ashley is evident through his actions, from his willingness to run through an airport to retrieve her attention, to his endearing attempt to propose with a candy ring. These moments showcase not only his love for her but also the playful nature of their relationship.

Ashley’s character shines through her interactions with Ryder and those around her. Her warmth and humor, coupled with her genuine affection for Ryder, make her a character readers can easily root for. The playful exchange involving the ice cream and wrench-themed spoons is a standout moment, capturing the essence of their relationship with both sweetness and wit.

The story’s conclusion is both satisfying and heartwarming. Ryder’s decision to propose with a ring pop, though unconventional, perfectly encapsulates the whimsical and sincere nature of their romance. The humorous and touching final scenes, including the airport escapade and the sticky ring pop situation, left me with a smile and a sense of fulfillment.

"Never Kiss Your Unexpected Roommate" is a charming and engaging read that will appeal to fans of romantic comedies. The blend of humor, romance, and genuine emotion makes it a standout story about finding love in unexpected places and cherishing those moments that define a relationship.

[Krystal]

I’ve read this entire series and this is a prequel to it. It’s been a while since I’ve read them so I don’t actually remember what happens in Mia’s book which is alluded to for this couple after the book ends and is in the author notes at the bottom.

This book has ten chapters and an epilogue so it is a very fast, easy read especially if you are short on time or just want a quick pick me up story.

Mia talks about introducing Ashley to Emma and Zoe but I honestly don’t remember her or Ryder for that matter in any of the other books. Is there a possibility of a book about Adam? My guess is no since he’s just a roommate and not related to anyone in the series.

I really liked the scenes with the grandmother in them because it really emphasized what kind of person Ryder is and how he meshes with Ashley and her family.

I would have loved to have seen the apple display!!

4 stars

[Bethani]

2 ⭐️ read! Y’all, i just needed a book that started with the letter N for my monthly reading challenge and found this novella and it was truly awful 🙈 i hardly EVER give a rating below 3 stars but holy cow this was a ROUGH 80 pages. So many typo errors. Plot holes. Things that didn’t make sense and a ridiculously out of sorts timeline. Basically the girl is in a small town to take care of her grandma, dumps apples over in a grocery store, the town hottie helps her and they fall madly into love in 8 weeks. Woof. Ok. Now back to my regular scheduled programming 🤣 #bookworm #bookish #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #readingcomunity

[Jean Katchmar]

A toppled display of fruit is how Ryder meets Ashley in Cedar Creek. She offers to bake Ryder a pie after he helps her clean up apples. He learns Ashley is an airline stewardess on leave to help her ailing grandmother. The two-week stay becomes much longer, and Ryder and Ashley soon develop feelings for one another. Their dates and happy times together will make you smile. But her time to return to Las Vegas approaches and they must decide about their future. Sweet romance that I am sure you will enjoy.

[Ashley | veraxaudeo]

I tried. I really did. I made it to 42% and just gave up. It wasn't bad, but it's just too saccharine for my tastes (I chose it thinking it was a good palate cleanser type read). I thought it started out pretty cute, and I think I'd recommend it to someone looking for this type of book, but unfortunately, I didn't care enough about the MCs to finish the novella. If you like cute, small town rom-coms, give it a read.

Because I don't think there is anything bad about it, nor anything great, I'm giving it a neutral 3☆

[Jen]

Adorable prequel novella in the world as Mia, Emma and Zoe. Ryder is Mia's twin who has one of the cutest meet cutes I've ever read!! He and Ashley seem to have a whirlwind relationship, but it actually happens over the course of several weeks or months. Ashely is just in town for aa little while and isn't expecting to meet anyone and then Ryder appears. Their relationship is fun and joyful I laughed aloud several times; drawing curious glances from everyone else around me. It is the perfect opening for the next three stories. There is no physical intimacy except for kissing.

[Doreen Farrar]

This book is a short prequel to the Cedar Creek stories that Kinley Raine has already published. All of these stories are excellent, with quirky encounters and a general sense that everyone has an optimistic friendly outlook. There's no actual sex, although cuddling and kissing happen, once the couple decides they're falling in love. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Kinley's books.

[Jean Hall]

Ryder meets Ashley when she accidentally topples a display of fruit in Cedar Creek. He helps her pick up the apples and she offers to bake him a pie in return. Ashley is a stewardess who is in town on leave to care for her ailing grandmother. The two week stay becomes more and the two grow close. Their dates and happy times are sweet. But her time to return to Vegas draws near and the have to decide about their future. Cute, fun rom-com with interesting characters.

[Marilyn Burrows]

That produce aisle needed a warning sign! I just touched a beautiful apple and the display turned into an avalanche. It’s how I met him. He was so kind to help me pick up all the apples on the floor. To pay him back, I was going to make him an apple pie. Well if you think the apple display was a fiasco, wait til you read what happens to the pie and ice cream. You will not believe it

[Korkoi]

Love Across the Toppled Display -
This was an awesome, fun, instalove short story, with great characters and a heartwarming storyline, that kept me entertained for a few hours. Grab a copy of this book to read and you won’t be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book free and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janine]

LOVED this prequel! Loved Ashley and Ryder during Mia's story, and LOVED getting to see their meet cute and watching their relationship grow. Such a fun relationship and so many fun scenes! I almost wish it could be a full novel, but totally works as a Novella...

Truly a fun, quick read...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Renee]

Cute little prequel to this series. It was good to get the back story on Ryder and Ashley.

I loved the scenes with Ashley's grandmother, they were really lovely to read.

This is a sweet series and an easy read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara]

Words cannot express how much I loved reading this book. I literally couldn’t put it down so my husband and I ordered delivery so I could stay home and finish reading this book. It has great characters and a fun and romantic storyline. 5/5-star rating.

[Yinda]

A very cute prequel!! I like how in love they are. Also enjoyed the jewelry store scene; that was fun! This couple is very lively and enjoy pulling pranks on each other and that is different from what I usually read. I enjoyed reading this very much!

[Debbie Benson]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. It is a sweet romantic story for Ashley and Ryder. I liked the comic moments.

[Rick Farlee]

Hilarious. Short story about an unlikely couple who meet in the produce section of a grocery store…. Recommended.

[Karen]

I liked this story.

Content: passionate kissing

[Genesia]

Love it! Love it! Can't wait to read the rest of Ashley and Ryder's story. A must read for romance readers. Thank you Kinley Raine for giving me the opportunity to read this free book.

[Bree Evans]

romcom is the best

Can’t beat a quick rom com. I will definitely check out the rest of the series as soon as possible.

[Kaylee Lahey]

“But” should not ever start a sentence. After reading only fifteen pages, I couldn’t take it anymore.

[CANDEN333]

Cute cover. Cutesy novella.